Car-coupling



1 UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE EDWARD BROCKWAY, OF SEPAR, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

CAR-COzUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,660, dated August 30, 1892.

Application filed December 5, 1891. Serial No. 414,106. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BROCKWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Separ, in the County of Grant and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the acconpanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. p

Figure 1 is an end View of a car to which my improvements have been'attached. Fig. 2 is a Vertical section of the coupler. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of the coupler. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the draw-head.

The invention consists in the Construction and combination of the various parts of the car-coupling, which will first be fully described in detail, and the features of novelty then fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, 1 represents the drawhead. 2 is the usual opening in the front thereof to receive and hold the coupling-link.

3 are two springs, one on each side of the draw-head opening, to engage and center the link as it enters the draw-head.

4: are two other springs Secured to the drawhead l and bent, as shown, so as to engage the coupling-link and keep it square upon the bottom of the drawopening 2, so that the coupling-pin can readily drop within the link.

5 is the coupling-link.

6 is a casing forming an upper extension of the draw-head within which the pin-operating mechanisn works. This casingG may be cast solid with the draw-head or forned separately and bolted thereon. Casing 6 is provided with a top or cover 7 and remov-able end pieces or slides 8 and 9, as shown, all of which may be adapted to [it in grooves in the casing.

10 is the pin guide-block, which stands vertioally above the pin-holes in the drawhead.

11 is the eylindrical hearing, in which the pin moves up and down.

12 are guide or run ways on opposite sides of the guide-block 10.

13 is the coupling-pin having laterally-projecting guide-studs 14, which enter the runways 12 of the guide-block in its up-anddown movement.

15 is a spring bolted to the front of the guide-block, its free upper end resting in a depression in the block just below the upper end of the runway 12.

16 is a trip-lever fulcrun'ed at 17 in the guide-block 10 and having its upper short p end adapted to bear against the free end of spring 15 and its lower projecting end pivoted to a bail-piece o link 18, arranged to eXtend down through the draw-head upon both sides of the guide-block and within the casing 6, the lower end 19 of said lever being a horizontal har uniting the sections on each side.

20 is a swinging trip-block pivotally hung from bearings in the front upper side of drawhead opening 2. This block 20 is adapted to be struck by the entering link, forcing it upward for the purpose of actuating the tripleVer, as will be hereinafter explained.

For the purpose of facilitating the novep ment of the coupling-pin 13, should its weight be insufficient to carry the pin downwardly with its connecting mechanisn quickly enough, I provide a weight 21, moving vertically in guideways 22 and which is connected with the coupling-pin 13, so as to move therewith up and down.

23 is a sheave or pulley hung in the upper parts of casing (j, and 24 is a similar sheave hung in the lowerportion ot' said casing, both of which have horizontal aXes.

25 is a third sheave or pulley vertically hung in the rear of the casing.

26 is a chain or wire, which is Secured at one end to the weight 21 or to the couplingpin 13, and passes thence up over sheave 23 and thence downwardly around sheave 24; Ghain 26 from this point branches into two chains 27 and 28, one of which, as shown, passes around sheave or pulley 25 in one direction to one side of the car and the other passing around sheave 25 in the opposite direction out to the opposite side of the car.

IOO

29 is a rod extending across the end of the v car and hung in suitable bearings thereon, so as to have a sliding movement endwise in the bearings.

30 are curved ends to the rods, which extend downwardly, serving as handles for operating the rod 29 and bringing the chains 27 and 28 in line with the pulley or sheave 25.

31 is a coiled spring upon the rod 29. so adjusted that when the rod is moved endwise to uncouple the link the spring 31 will, when the rod is released, bring it back to its normal condition to be again actuated.

32 is a vertical sta& leading to the top of the car having the usual wheel 33 on top and a pulley 34 at the bottom.

35 is a chain having its outerends secu red to the opposite ends of rod 29 and passed around the pulley 34. By turning wheel 33 the coupling-link is operated in the same manner as if the rod 29 were actuated. the spring 31 restoring the parts again in both instances.

I will suppose the coupling to be in readiness to receive the coupling-link. This link as it enters the draw-head is centered and held in correct position by the springs 3 and 4. At the same time the link 5 strikes the trip-block 20, swinging it backwardly and upwardly, causing it to engage the trip-lever 16, which in turn bears against the spring 15, causing its upper free end to move out from under the coupling-pin guide-stud 14, which suspends the coupling-pin 13. The couplingpin then falls down into the link, and the coupling of the car is effected.

When [it is desired to uncouple the cars, either the wheel 33 or the rod 29 is actuated,

which causes the chain 27 or 28 and chain 26 to raise the coupling-pin, asbefore explaned, until the pin-guide std 14 passes above spring 15, which snaps back under said stud, ntl again released by the coupling link strkng the trip-block and trip-level'.

It should be clearly'understood that I do not propose to limit myself to the precse mechanism of efiecting my object such as I have shown and described, as it is perfectly obvious that I may modify the mechanical details of my invention without departing from the principle of my improvement.

My invention is entirely automatic in the coupling of the cars.

I claim- V 1. The combination of a draw-head having an upper casing, apin working therein, apincarrying block having guideways, guidestuds on the pin, a spring adapted to engage the pin when up, a trip-lever for actuating the spring, and a pivoted trip for Operating the trip-lever.

2. The combination of a coupling-pin and its inclosing casing, pulleys within the casing, a cord or chain attached to the' pin, branch cordsor chains leading to each side of the car, a reciprocatiug rod on the car to which the cord is attached, and means for Operating the same.

In testimonywhereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD BROCKWAY.

Witnesses:

LOUIS I. MARSHALL, JOHN MEHNERT. 

